VICTORIA TO LOOK AT "DRUG HOTEL" SAYS BRACKS

The Victorian government would look at a "drug hotel" in its campaign
against heroin abuse, Premier Steve Bracks said today.

VicHealth chief executive Rob Moodie, who recently led MPs on an inspection
tour of drug facilities in the United States and Europe, said supervised
injecting rooms should include accommodation, food, clothes, counselling
and medical care for users.

"We're open to any sensible suggestion which can reduce the death toll(from
heroin), to get people onto rehabilitation, to get them off drugs," Mr
Bracks told Radio 3AW.

"So we'll look at that(the drug hotel concept) very seriously.

"And if we think it works, and its something that could be supported across
both parties then we'll look at bringing it in."

The Bracks government is proposing to set up supervised injecting rooms in
several Melbourne municipalities.

The government's strategy against heroin abuse also includes more
rehabilitation and detoxification centres and community education on drug
abuse.

The state parliament is expected to consider legislation enabling the
establishment of supervised injecting rooms in the autumn session.

The Victorian opposition today backed the concept of integrated drug
services but said they need not include supervised injecting rooms.

'We're talking about a bundle of services from people who would provide
shelter and clothing and food and medical services,' said Liberal health
spokesman Robert Doyle.

'That doesn't necessarily include an injecting centre.'

Mr Doyle said the concept worked well in the facilities he visited during
his recent study tour of European drug treatment operations.

'The most important part is, it may well give us a connection to them
(addicts),' he said.